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Player ratings: Brave call

It took a brave spot-tackle from rookie scrumhalf Francois de Klerk with time up on the clock to ensure the Springboks held on for a 19-13 win.

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That is how much there was in it – just one score, one moment of brilliance, in each of the three Tests.

Jan de Koning rates the South African players:

15 Willie le Roux:

Still erratic and way off his best. Arguably he was fortunate not to have been red-carded when he collided with an Irishman in the air.

5/10

14 Ruan Combrinck:

His kicking out of hand is so valuable and under-utilised. Still raw and makes mistakes, but committed and skilful.

6/10

13 Lionel Mapoe:

Tried harder, but still making mistakes – missing tackles and conceding turnovers. Lots of hard work awaits if he wants to retain his place.

5/10

12 Damian de Allende:

From the sublime to the ridiculous – missed tackles, conceded a penalty and also tested the Irish's defensive lines.

6/10

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11 JP Pietersen:

Not flawless, but the ball he collected from the air at full-speed one the stroke of half-time was from the top shelf and a crucial score.

7/10

10 Elton Jantjies:

A horror show with the occasional moment of magic thrown in. Another player who may face the axe when the Rugby Championship arrives.

3/10

9 Francois de Klerk:

That second-half intercept near his own tryline, leaping in the air and the spot-tackle to stop a certain try makes him South Africa's most valuable player. That is not even taking into account the rest of his game, which was not too shabby either.

9/10

8 Warren Whiteley:

Not flawless by any means, but he made 22 tackles – the most of any player in the game – and had a couple of decent carries.

7/10

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7 Siya Kolisi:

Bounced back from last week's poor display and will grow into his role as a blindside flanker.

6/10

6 Francois Louw:

Probably his best performance of the series and while he still looked a touch off the pace, showed glimpses of the form that can make him a feature in the openside role.

6/10

5 Pieter-Steph du Toit:

His workrate is simply phenomenal, with more than just a handful of carries and his tackle count (15) only beaten by that of Whiteley.

7/10

4 Eben Etzebeth:

Like his lock partner he did enormous work on defence, but overall his workrate can improve.

6/10

3 Frans Malherbe:

Better than the first two Tests, especially in the scrums, but still not at an acceptable level.

5/10

2 Adriaan Strauss (captain):

Let's just say that the standard of his game is NOT acceptable for a Springbok captain.

5/10

1 Tendai Mtawarira:

His ball-carrying improved and his defence was solid – when he tackled.

6/10

Replacements:

16 Bongi Mbonambi (on for Strauss, 79th min):

Not enough time to be rated.

17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Mtawarira, 57th min):

Massive scrum first up and made all his tackles. Not chances with ball in hand.

6/10

18 Julian Redelinghuys (on for Malherbe, 57th min):

Made a huge statement in his first scrum and also made all his tackles.

6/10

19 Franco Mostert (on for Etzebeth, 74th min):

Not enough time to be rated.

20 Jaco Kriel (on for Kolisi, 60th min):

Brought some energy in his cameo, but mostly forced to defend in the final quarter.

6/10

21 Rudy Paige:

Not used.

22 Morné Steyn:

Not used.

23 Lwazi Mvovo:

Not used.

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